When the Book of Mormon first appeared for sale in early 1830, questions surfaced regarding its claim to be an ancient history of the Americas. New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology outlines the broad contours of contemporary scholarship which continue to examine issues of antiquity. Drawing from a variety of disciplines, contributors discuss historicity from the standpoint of physical and cultural anthropology, geography, linguistics, demographics, literary forms, liturgical context, theology, and evolution of the original manuscript to published work.

The message of the Book of Mormon is one of socio-economic equality and divine intervention. That message can sometimes be obscured by polemical use of the book as a prooftext for elitist and institutional agendas over personal religious experience. The Book of Mormon has become an icon that is revered more than understood, according to contributors. Attempts to make the book relevant often gloss over context. Returning to a nineteenth-century understanding of the text restores the book's spiritual rather than symbolic importance.

Among contributors to New Approaches to the Book of Mormon are David P. Wright, assistant professor of Hebrew Bible and Near Eastern Studies, Brandeis University; Deanne G. Matheny, former instructor of anthropology and archaeology, Brigham Young University; Stan Larson, senior researcher, Utah Philosophy and Religion Archives, Marriott Library, University of Utah; Edward H. Ashment, former supervisor, scripture translation services, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Melodie Moench Charles, MTS graduate. Old Testament, Harvard Divinity School; and Anthony H. Hutchinson, Ph.D. candidate, biblical studies. Catholic University.

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